Rhubarb Restaurant established in 2003 by husband and wife Mark and Lisa Ramsden, claims to have a ‘Seasonal British Menu’. Where then, may I ask, is the rhubarb, Rhubarb Restaurant? It’s in season. It’s British. Heck, it’s even topical! The answer comes as thus: it rears its ruby head in one or two of the desserts, but that’s it.
Now I know that names are not everything, especially on Burton Road (often a glutton’s paradise), where the ideal seems to be the more eccentric the name the better – And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon being a personal favourite - but there’s hardly a snifter of Rhubarb on the whole menu here. The name then, I swiftly presume, must refer to the garish décor – rhubarb coloured curtains and tableware. Frankly, it’s upsetting.
Instead of rhubarb – there is so much scope that is missed here - I begrudgingly order a chicken liver parfait. It is worryingly grey on arrival and is garnished with pickled onions that are not only slimy, but are the same brash pink as the curtain tie-backs. Not a great start. As my knife and fork touch down my plate is whisked away and almost simultaneously a plate of Confit Pork Belly hits the deck. I’m not ready for it.
So before tucking in to my so-called crispy belly pork, I have been dreaming of Nigel Slater’s mouth-watering recipe for Roast pork with rhubarb, I take a moment to wonder if the service is always like this: hasty and erring on the side of unfriendly. I’ve heard good things about this restaurant, so I’m wondering how things have gone so awry tonight. Part of me wonders if it’s because we’re in early, it’s 5.30 and the restaurant is fairly quiet. Part of me knows that a good restaurant understands that consistency counts for everything.
The dessert menu arrives promptly, but my desire for rhubarb has diminished. Thus the Set Rhubarb Cream stays in the kitchen. The pork fat is sitting heavy on my stomach.
My friend and I aren’t asked if we would like coffees, or indeed anything else. Instead we are offered the bill. We pay and leave and are done in less than thirty minutes. I think this would be record time for a trip to Nando’s, or indeed McDonalds. I stump up the £14.95 for my two courses, but in all honesty I leave feeling cheated and robbed.
With so many other independent restaurants vying for my custom in West Didsbury, I’m not in a hurry to return to this one.
1/5
Rhubarb Restaurant
167 Burton Road
West Didsbury
Manchester
I never get tired of repeating what a terrible time I had here a few years ago. We went for a school-friend’s hen -d0. Unusually for me, I can’t remember what I ate (it was ok). What I do remember though, is the service and how humiliated I felt when I left – I’ve never worked out if this was caused by the manager or the owner.
The bill was rounded up and we all paid by card. I was last. They hadn’t bothered dividing it up properly, so I found I was paying about £4 more than everybody else.
At the time, I was just starting my own business which I’d been begging, borrowing and sweating to get up and running, so could ill afford to go for this meal anyway, but was duty bound due to the occasion.
When I quietly, but firmly, pointed out the financial discretion to the owner/manageress she turned into a screaming banshee.
“I can’t believe you are whining about a few pounds” she said. The table fell silent, the atmosphere was totally ruined and I felt like I’d been slapped. She went on, glaring at us “and you were all late!”
We may have been about ten minutes late arriving for our table but no-one mentioned it was a problem at the time. There were at least 8 of us in the party and we’d spent good money on food and wine. Most of the ladies were local professionals and we’d behaved impeccably.
I have written about this in other places and one comment suggested ‘I get over it.’ As someone who works in hospitality, I’m afraid I can’t. I also can’t believe this place is still open for business what with the amount of complaints that arise regarding its front of house service.
Uncharacteristically for someone like me who regards themselves as a champion of independent business, I’m afraid I continue to bear it nothing but ill will.
I dont normally comment on individual situations but I remember this clearly and your account is very one sided. You demanded that every card at the table was refunded and we start the transaction again so you could pay an identical amount to your guests. I do remember the table falling silent when you agressively threw some pound coins down the table at me with the words ‘Here, keep your £4′. I tried to offer you this money as a cash refund to avoid refuning all your friends cards which you had insisted on. I also clearly remember your friend phoning me up the next morning to apologise for your behaviour which she said all your friends were astonished by. I have never been left in tears by a customer until this incident.
Your account can not possibly be true Lisa. Like I said, I was starting a new business, and as I’m sure you can sympathise with, I had no money to ‘throw down on the table’. Literally not a penny.
Perhaps if you admitted, as you have done here, that you miscalculated the bill and that I was left with the deficit, you should have done the right thing and taken the £4 off my bill (which you never did, of course I would have taken it in cash, had it been offered, why wouldn’t I?)
You may sit on your high horse all you like regarding this particular situation, but the point is that you are running a front of house that consistently receives criticism for poor service(this blog is just one example.)
Unless you, YOU, sort this out, you are undermining all the hard work your team is doing behind you (and I hear reports that your current chef is excellent) Do not let him down. I trust you will have enough grace to leave it there.
I agree Deanna and it’s such a shame as there’s a glut of delicious restaurants in West Didsbury. I had honestly heard nothing but good reviews about Rhubarb though before I went. I think that only made it worse!
Deana, I think its quite amusing how you have told this story over the years as an example of poor service whilst conversely, I have recounted the story as the rudest customer I ever met. The friend who apologised for your behaviour even had concerns that the whole group would be barred from the restaurant. But I think we should draw a line under it now and maybe even start again,. Perhaps you and buttered crumpet would graciously accept my inviation for dinner at the restaurant and allow myself and my team the opportunity to demonstrate how we do offer excellent service and food?
Perhaps I have been on my high horse today. But perhaps that’s also because (unbeknown to you) I have sat in Manchester Childrens hospital for most of today waiting to see if my 5 week old daugher has a life threatening genetic disorder. She’s OK, She got the all clear and I am elated. But remember, when you write your blogs and whip up a storm of interest on Twitter, real lives and real people are invloved and often once a comment has been made its hard to retract or refute.
As I mother myself, I can only say how sorry I am to hear about your daughter, bloody hell, that sounds horrendous. I am glad that she is ok now – and that you have peace of mind.
However, it’s not directly relevant to this discussion and I’m not quite sure why you felt you needed to include it in such a public forum.
Thank you for your kind and gracious invitation, but if I did visit again, it would only be a fair reflection of your service if I didn’t announce that I was coming. (If I do bump into you though, I think we should have a drink!)
As for your last comment, you will see that I tweet, blog and review fairly and use my unique perspective as an experienced professional chef responsibly. I would never countenance cyber bullying and often actively act against it. Constructive and articulate criticism about a personal experience is not the same.
Thanks again for your invitation Lisa.
“But remember, when you write your blogs and whip up a storm of interest on Twitter, real lives and real people are invloved and often once a comment has been made its hard to retract or refute”
I think when it comes to Twitter this provided less of a storm, more of a flurry. I understand real lives and people are involved, of course. However, you provide a service and thus are open to criticism.
In my view debate and personal opinion is a wonderful thing. I hope people will make their own mind up about your restaurant. I have provided a link to your website – I still can’t help but to give a little nudge toward the independents, even if I didn’t have a great experience.
As for your offer, many thanks but I will have to decline on this occasion- as I mentioned in my post consistency is what counts for me. Thursday is Didsbury meal day and it would seem I’m booked up with exploring the rest of Burton Road for some time anyway. There really is so much choice!
Well ladies, I hope the air has been cleared somewhat. Don’t suppose either of you know where I can get really good onion rings do you ? I’ve had a wicked craving for deep fried onion rings all week!
http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/American/Napa-review-Bramhall ‘excellent onion rings’
Oh my! They DO look good. I’ve bought some and I’m havin: onion rings, gammon and chips on the softest floury white baps! If that doesn’t satisfy my craving, I don’t know what will.
Hmm! Not able to comment on the service, but as a general rule for the business owner to reply even to a bad review doesn’t appear to be the most dignified thing to do.
It is an unwritten rule of business that your customers can say what they like but you accept it. Right or wrong.
The customer may have hit you over the head with a shovel and you may be aggrieved by that, but don’t whatever you do dig yourself into a hole with it!
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